PMO - What does it really stand for?

Projects and PMOs (Project Management Offices) have been around for more than the 40 years that the APM has been in existence, but it is only in the last 10 years that they have been recognised as a guidance and leadership organisation, beyond their well-known remit of delivering project and programme support.

This well-attended session tracked the development of PMOs in their various guises and gave delegates an understanding of some of the services and functions that can be performed in and from a PMO. It was designed to help all project and programme management professionals gain an appreciation of why many businesses are seeing PMOs as the "missing link" that is necessary to establish and improve project selection and delivery standards and records in their organisation.

The event provided an opportunity to explore the types of PMOs, the services they can provide to organisations, and how your PMO can help companies deliver projects well. In true APM PMO SIG tradition, attendees had opportunities to absorb, share and discuss information during the evening.

Chris Walters is the chairman of the APM PMOSIG. He currently works for Vodafone and over the last 20 years has held a number of project management, PMO leadership, consulting and business management roles in companies that deliver technology products and solutions.

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